#016: Delete The Adjective - Lisa Jaster

The Jedburgh Podcast

Ranger School, and the Ranger ethos have defined military leaders, and leadership in general, for over 70 years. But until 2016, the opportunity to earn a Ranger qualification was limited only to men. In this episode, host Fran Racioppi is joined by Lisa Jaster, one of three women to attend the first integrated Ranger School class.

Most attendees of Ranger School are in their 20's, men and and from the Infantry or Special Forces. Lisa graduated at 37 years old, a mother of two, a woman, and an engineer. She also faced the utmost mental and physical challenges of resilience as she recycled every phase of the course; being forced to do every exercise again.

We highlight the difference between those who say and those who do; the importance of physical preparation; the optionality of quitting; and what it means to truly build an organization on uncompromised standards.

Lisa shares her three C's of leadership, what it means to #deletetheadjective when it comes to women leaders; and how leaders must earn respect every damn day. Ranger School graduates, Fran & Lisa also show us how the Ranger ethos can be applied to any organization. Rangers lead the way!

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.

Highlights:

-Explanation of the leadership lessons taught and learned in Ranger School and how they are needed in any organization.

-How living by the six stanzas of the Ranger Creed create world class leaders.

-Fran and Lisa bond over the shared pain and suffering of Ranger School and the differences in their experiences while attending the school.

-Physical fitness is a controllable aspect of our lives in that we ourselves directly determine how fit we are. Being in a higher state of physical fitness allows us to focus our mental capacity on other challenges we face.

-Lisa challenges all organizations and leaders to create one standard and hold everyone accountable to it; there should not be women standards and men standards.

-Fran asks Lisa to describe her 3 - C’s of leadership and how displaying them on a daily basis will set us apart.

Quotes:

-”If women are even in the discussion that we can be capable leaders, then to deny us access to the Army’s most rigorous leadership course would be saying the opposite.”

-”Can I add value without taking away the shine.”

-”I’ve been constantly competing against the status quo, against the norms, against the nay-sayers.”

-”Always be prepared also includes always being willing to do what you need to do to reach your goals, to be a creative thinker, to think outside the box.”

-”We often forget when you have an under-represented population that the over-represented population is also affected by these changes.”

-”You can’t let the quit in...if it's not in your head it's not there.”

-”When you are not winning, you are learning.”

-”A title helps me understand what you do for a living, but it doesn't help me respect you.”

-”Once you lose respect words have no meaning and you have to start rebuilding from the foundation up.”

Lisa’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:

-Write down must dos and want to do’s (having a plan)

-Executing the plan vigorously (conduct the plan)

-Adapt the plan (change the plan when needed)